Retina - Macular Pucker

[StPeteMark]

What the ??? I didn't know either. Wanted to share the knowledge with both FoF sites.

Found out end of last year; this is why I couldn't get 20-20 correction with glasses.

Had surgery this morning...took about an hour with prep. So far, so good...but the local anesthesia and sedation drugs still linger. I must stay home from work all this week...oh pity me!

Here info from my surgeon's website:

http://www.maculacenter.com/EyeConditions/macularPucker.htm

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[Lynda]

Very interesting Mark, you will have to update us on your progress please! Hope it is very successful for you:)

[aerobat]

Thanks for that info, Mark, and I wish you a speedy and complete recovery! I had not heard of this. I knew about macular degeneration, which my mother had--partly age-related and partly due to having smoked heavily for many years...but the pucker? (no, no jokes ;)) New one for me.

Barb

[StPeteMark]

Thanks guys! The doctor was please with today's day-after check up...however, this is considered major eye surgery and the eye needs to be monitored carefully for 2-3 weeks for things like infection, tears, and detachment.

The pucker is like a piece of scotch tape that has been put down unevenly on the retina; the retina takes the uneven condition. Straight lines become wavy and images become distorted, like looking in a funny mirror at the circus. It also shifts the focal point giving double vision when both eyes are open; special prism correction is needed for glasses when a pucker is present.

My vision is now blurry with the pucker removed and will take some time to clear up as it heals.

Here's the test for this and maybe other retina conditions:

Amsler Grid Test (http://www.retinaassociatesfla.com/amsler.html)

Hope you see straight lines in both directions with both eyes!

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[Barb-SAN]

Hey, Mark, How is your eye doing today? Thanks for posting all that information and links. I just printed out the Amsler Grid, and am happy to say I passed the test.

That first link you posted includes information about the development of floaters as we get older. I had that happen a couple years ago...suddenly got quite a large one, plus some flashes of light that were noticeable at night. So...I had to go to the opthalmologist every few months for awhile and have my eyes checked to be sure there wasn't a detached retina. So far so good, but the big floater is still there two years later...especially annoying in bright light. Apparently the brain eventually learns to ignore it most of the time.

I'd never heard of the "pucker" problem, but apparently the floaters and flashes become increasingly common as we get older.

[StPeteMark]

Hey, Mark, How is your eye doing today? Thanks for posting all that information and links. I just printed out the Amsler Grid, and am happy to say I passed the test. ...
Hi Barb, eye appears to be healing as expected. It's going to be awhile for the retina to re-shape after being scrunched up for at least a year.

I still have a "black eye" below the eye where they injected the anesthesia; I'm back to work tomorrow and the accusations will be flying, "What did you do to Susan that caused her to give you that shiner?! " :cool:

Glad you saw straight lines on the Amsler Grid!
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